Honey is a thick, sweet, and sticky liquid that is made by bees using the nectar from flowers. Enriched with necessary plant compounds and minerals like iron, calcium, and magnesium, honey offers many health benefits. In this article, we will discuss some of the health benefits of honey and how it is prepared.
How is Honey Prepared?
It is said that more than 50,000 honey bees visit about 2 million flowers to gather nectar so that they can prepare one pound of honey.
After collecting the nectar, the bees store it in its extra stomach. Here, it mixes the nectar with other enzymes and then passes it to another bee’s mouth.
This process is known as regurgitation. Regurgitation is repeated until the nectar is partially digested. After it becomes partially digested, the liquid nectar is deposited into a honeycomb.
Finally, the bees fan the nectar with their wings and enable the water to evaporate, and thereby creates honey. The smell, color, and taste of the honey depend upon the types of flowers visited by the bees.
What is Organic Honey?
Organic honey is derived from the pollen of organically grown plants. Also, this type of honey is free of chemicals and antibiotics.
Organic honey is independently certified and comes from a beehive that is 2 miles away from the nearest source (Example: road, factories, etc.). Most of the certified organic honey is found in the United States and is imported in large quantities from foreign countries like Brazil.
What is Raw Honey?
Raw honey is a type of honey that has not been pasteurized. This means that it has not been heated above 45 degrees and its pollen has not been filtered.
Owing to this reason, raw honey is high in vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. Raw honey is good for the bees as well because since this honey-making process is handled carefully by the beekeepers. Hence, raw honey is not only healthy and tasty, it is a good option for the bees as well as the environment.
Benefits of Honey/Raw Honey
Let’s discuss in detail the health benefits of honey.
- Honey strengthens the immunity system
Honey has antioxidant and antibacterial properties. This makes honey effective for removing free radicals from the body. Also, due to this reason, honey improves the digestive system, lowers blood pressure level, and strengthens the immunity system. It is recommended by many health experts to begin your day by drinking a cup of warm water that contains a spoonful of honey and lemon juice.
- Treats cold and cough symptoms
According to a report published by the World Health Organization, honey is capable of treating cough and cold. Owing to its antimicrobial properties, honey not only helps in soothing your throat but also fights bacteria which leads to the infection.
- Provides energy
Instead of adding sugar to food and beverages, add honey. Honey contains natural sugar which not only prevents fatigue but also improves your athletic experience. Honey has high levels of fructose and glucose that provides energy to your body.
- Honey helps in healing wounds and burns
Honey helps in treating burns and wounds. Honey’s antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties restrict the growth of bacteria and help in keeping external wounds free from any sort of infection. It also helps in reducing swelling, pain, scarring, and also nourishes the surrounding tissue. According to some reports, honey also helps in treating diabetic foot ulcers.
- Improves lack of sleep
Having trouble falling asleep? Do not worry! Honey is there for your rescue. Add a tsp. of honey to a glass of hot milk and drink it before going to sleep. Honey releases serotonin which the body converts into melatonin and this in turn monitors the length and quality of sleep.
- Honey cures heart diseases
Honey has a high content of phenol and other antioxidant compounds that prevents heart diseases. Honey not only increases blood flow to your heart but also prevents blood clot formation that causes heart attacks and strokes.
- Honey helps in weight loss
It is said that if you drink warm water with honey and a tsp. of lemon juice in the morning, it will boost your body’s metabolism rate and aids in weight loss. You can also consume honey before going to bed at night. In this way, your body will burn more fat during the early hours of sleep.
- Improves skin problems
Honey acts as a good moisturizer owing to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It nourishes your skin, smoothens your knees and elbows as well as chapped lips. Simply, rub some honey onto your face and rinse it off after thirty minutes. You can also use honey in the form of a scrub. Just add some sugar into it and apply it on your face. This scrub will work as a natural exfoliator.
- Honey prevents acid reflux
According to some studies, honey can reduce the upward flow of stomach acid and undigested food. In this way, honey helps in reducing the chances of gastroesophageal reflux disease, heartburn, etc.
- Honey treats dandruff and itchiness
Do not know how to get rid of dandruff? No worries! Simply apply honey diluted with 10 % warm water onto the scalp and leave it for three hours before washing it off. This will strengthen hair stands and also relieve itchiness and dandruff.
- Reduces the span of diarrhea
Honey increases potassium and water intake that benefits a person who is experiencing diarrhea. Honey can also block the actions of pathogens that lead to diarrhea.
From where you can buy honey
You can buy honey online, from independent food shops, or from local markets.
Buy Raw Honey: amazon.in
Buy Organic Honey: amazon.in
Conclusion
Thus, it can be concluded that there are numerous health benefits of honey. However, it is suggested that you must consume honey in small quantities as it contains high calories and sugar.